Special Correspondent
Pune: The prime accused in the Swargate rape case, Datta Gade, has finally been arrested by the police from Gunat village in Shirur taluka. He was apprehended around 1:30 AM in a field after an intensive search operation.
A massive manhunt was underway to locate Gade, who had sexually assaulted a young woman at the Swargate bus stand before fleeing to his native village, Gunat. Reports from villagers indicated his presence there, prompting the police to focus their search in the area. Heavy police deployment was arranged, and officers used drones to scan the nearby sugarcane fields.
To track him down, Pune police had deployed 13 special teams, along with dog squads and drones. The authorities suspected that Gade was hiding in a nearby farm, avoiding capture. With assistance from the canine unit, officers combed the area thoroughly.
For two days, Gade remained hidden in the sugarcane fields, surviving without food. However, he was forced to move when hunger compelled him to visit his relatives for water. This crucial tip-off helped the police pinpoint his location.
At around 1 AM, officers noticed movement near a canal. Acting swiftly, a team comprising police personnel Shankar Sampate, Sagar Kekan, Nana Bhandurge, Kundan Shinde, and Sujay Pawar surrounded him. With careful precision, they apprehended Gade without allowing him any chance to escape.
Following his arrest, Gade was immediately transported to Pune and is currently being held in the lockup at the Lashkar police station. This marks the successful conclusion of an intense 70-hour search operation.
